Apparatus for supporting injured limbs



Jan. l 1924 S. FERRGAM APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING INJUREDl LIMBS 2 sheets-sheet l1 Filed Nov. 5, 1921 l RN-,

S. FERRAGAMO APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING INJURED LIMBS Filed Nov. s,

1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .Il I l Patented dan. 1, 1924.

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SALVATORE FERRAGAMO, OF SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA.

Application led November 3, 1921.

To all whom t may conce/m Be it known that I, SALVATORE FERRAGAMO,

a subject of the King of Italy, residing at Santa Barbara, in the county of Santa Barbara and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Supporting Injured Limbs,

of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an apparatus for supporting an injured limb and particularly to a portable apparatus adapted to provide a'yielding support for a limb which is carried in a splint or other frame.

An obj ect of my invention is to provide an apparatus for properly supporting an injured limb during healing and which apparatus will provide for the maximum ease and comfort of the patient. A further object of my invention is to provide a portable apparatus which may be anchored in position near the bed on which the patient lies. A further object of my invention is to provide an apparatus including a yielding support, and more specifically a yielding support having provision for varying the tension applied by the 'yielding support. Still another object is to provide a support for the limb and hand grips which the patient may use in shifting the position of his body, but not of the supported limb. A further object is to provide a platform carrying a vertically adjustable standard having an eX- tensible lateral arm which carries a tensioned cable for supporting the limb. More specifically an object is to provide a vertically adjustable standard carrying a radially adjustable and extensible arm, upon which parts is mounted an adjustably tensioned cable for supporting a limb.

One embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig.4 1 is an end elevation of my apparatus as applied to support a leg splint;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus, the radial arms being shown in position over the platform;

F ig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section 1 through the base of the post and the cable 50' drum;

Fig. 4 is a detail view, in section, illustrating the standard adjusting means; and

Figs. 5 and 6 are vertical sections on planes at right angles to each other, through one of the take-up devices.

APPARATUS FOB SPPORTING INJURED LMBS.4

Serial No. 512,612.

In Fig. 1, which illustrates the invention in use in connection with a case involving a fracture of the leg, the platform which supports the apparatus is designated by the numeral 1, and said platform is carried on rollers 2 and is provided with a brake or anchoring device such as a bar 3 which may be forced against the iioor byA a screw 4 which passes through the platform 1. A telescoping standard comprising a lower outer postV 5 and an upper inner post 6 is mounted on the platform 1. The lower post 5 passes through a flanged opening in the platform 1 and is clamped to the platform by means of a collar 7 and a cap 8 which is screwed onto the lower threaded end ofthe post. The lower post 5 is provided with 'an internal flange 9 and a cushioning spring 10 is located between flange 9 and the lower 75 end of the upper post 6. To provide means for adjusting the height of the standard 5, 6, the post 6 carries a rack 1-1 which engages with a pinion 12. The pinion 12 is suitably mounted in housingl which is carried by 'the post 5, and saidpinion is provided with Va handwheel 12 and a spring-pressed locking pawl 14 vwhich may be movedout of locking position by plunger 15.

Near its upper end, post 6 is provided with 85 a pair of upwardly presented shoulders 16 and 16', and said shoulders are preferably formed by reductions in 'the outside diameter of the post. An arm 17 is mounted on post 6 by means of a sleeve 18 which rests upon the lower shoulder 16 and which is free to rotate about the post. A pair of hand grips, as rings 19, are suspended from the outer end of arm 17 lby means of cords or cables 20.

The upper shoulder 16 provides a stop surface upon which a second lateral arm rests. This second arm comprises a pair of members 21 having their inner ends 22 located on opposite sides of the post/.6 and L00 curved to conform to the outer surface thereof.' These end portions 22, together with suitable clamping bolts 23 provide a clamp for fastening the; lateral arm to post 6 iu any desired radial position. The outer sides of the members 21 are vformed with upper and lower lateral extensions 24,24 which terminate, respectively, in downwardly and upwardly. directed flanges 25,25. This' construction provides longitudinalr sockets or sleeves for the reception of extension bars 26 Cil Which may be moved along the members 21 and clamped in any desired position by means of nuts 27 which bear against ianges 25, and Which are mounted on bolts carv ried by bars 26.

A casing 28 having a removable cover plate 29 is formed on the post 5 near its lower end and houses a U-trame 30. The trame 80 is attached to the post- 5 by means of a bolt 31 which passes through .the cap 8 and an additional bolt 32 which passes throughthe trame and the housing 28 prevents rotation ot the -trame about the bolt 3l. The trame 30 carries a fixed shaitt 33 through which one end of a coiled spring 34 pasess. Upon the shat't S3 is mounted a drum 35 having flanged side 36 which encloses the spring 34 and to Which the outer end ot said spring is fixed. A cord or cable 37 has an end coiled upon and attached to the drum 35 and theother end pass up through the hollowstandard 5, 6, over a pulley 38 and then under pulley 39. The pulley 88 is carried on a post which is free to turn on a plate 38 which is attached to the post 6 and pulley 39 is mounted on the relzuzively stationary members 2l oi the upper arm.

The cable 37 then passes over a pulley 40 on the outer ends of the eXtensible bars "26 and carries a take-up device 41 atits outer extremity. rlhe take-up device carries a ring 42 to which a plurality of cords or cables 43 are attached and each of said cables is provided at its lower end With a take-up device 4l. The several devices 4l are individually attached by means ot clamps 44 to the splint Jframe45.

The take-up devices 41 are preferable identical in construction With the take-up 4l. which comprises a suitable casing and a shaft having'lixed thereon a drum 46, a handle 47 and a ratchet 48 which is engaged by a locking lever 49. he handle 47 is pivoted to the shaft so that it may be Jfolded. over to engage an opening in the casing to provide an additional locking means.

In use, the platform is Wheeled into position and anchored adjacent the bed after the splint has been applied to a patients.

limb. The standard', 6 is adjusted to the desired height and the upper lateral arm is swung into and clamped in position over the injured limb. Vllhe length ot the arm is adjusted to bring the ring 42 over'the center portion of the limb. The cables 43 are then connected to the splint trame by means of the adjustable clamps 44 and the cables are adjusted in length through take-up devices 41. When the cables 48 are properly adjusted the take-up device 41 is operated to'talre up on the cable 37 until the spring 34 is tensioned suiiiciently to raise the Vlimb to the desired position above the bed. The limb is thus carried by a yielding support which exerts just the required tension to -hold the limb in proper position. The, actual tension required depends upon the Weight ot the limb and the relative position in Which it is supported. The apparatus .described furnishes what is in effectan automatic means for properly tensioning the supporting cable since the limb Will not be raised into its position until the increasing tension in the cable has reached the proper value.

rlhe device as illustrated in Fig. l shows its use Jfor supporting a fractured'leg but it is to be understood that it may bensed tor supporting,` other portions ot the body and that the part supported may be held in any desired position by a suitable adjustment or" the cables 43. lt 'is obvious-that various changes may be made in the several parts, their relative size, proportion and relationship and that such changes are contemplated Within the scope of 'my invention.

I claim Y l. An apparatus ot the class described comprising a standard, means including a lateral arm tor supporting a limb ot a patient Jrom said standard, a seco-nd llateral arm loosely pivoted on said standard and a hand grip carried by said arm, saidsecond arm being freely movablel to position said handgrip Within reach ot the patient.

2. Apparatus ot the class described comprising a vertical standard, an arm mounted on said standard, a trame for supportinga limb, a cablek carried by said standard and `arm and connected to said trame, and means including a tensioned cable drurnfor varying the tension in said cable. A

3. Apparatus ot the class described comprising a vertical standard, an arm mounted 'on said standard,` a frame for supporting a limb, a plurality of flexible connections vattached to said tra-me, means 'for'varying the lengths ot said connections, a cable supported by said arm andhaving one end connected to said flexible connections, vand a spring drum to which the opposite end ot said cable is attached.

4. Apparatus ot the class described comprising a vertical standard, an arm mounted on said standard, a trame for supporting a limb, a plurality of flexible connections adjustably attached to said frame, means -tor varying the lengths ot the said flexible connections, a cable having one end connect-ed to said flexible connections, a spring drum on said standard for receiving the opposite end ot said cable, means on saidV arm for guidingsaid cable, and means for varying the length of said cable.

5. Apparatusv ot lthe class described comprising a vertically adjustable standard, a member having a longitudinal socket, means j tor clamping said member to said standard, a bar located in said socket, means for clamping said bar to said member, guide means carried by said bar, a cable connected to said standard and passing over said guide means, a limb supporting frame suspended from said cable, means for varying the length of said cable and means for varying the tension in said cable.

6. Apparatus of the class described comprising a movable platform, a brake for anchoring said platform, a vertical standard on said platform, a pair of shoulders formed on Said standard, an arm resting on the lower shoulder and loosely pivoted on said standard, hand grips carried by said arm, a second arm resting on the upper shoulder and clamped to said standard, and means carried by said second arm for supporting a limb.

In testimony whereof, I aix my signature.

SALVATORE FERRAGAMO. 

